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Rational Design of Holey 2D Nonlayered Transition Metal Carbide/Nitride Heterostructure Nanosheets for Highly Efficient Water Oxidation
Author(s) -
Kou Zongkui,
Wang Tingting,
Gu Qilin,
Xiong Mo,
Zheng Lirong,
Li Xin,
Pan Zhenghui,
Chen Hao,
Verpoort Francis,
Cheetham Anthony K.,
Mu Shichun,
Wang John
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201803768
Subject(s) - materials science , heterojunction , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , nitride , water splitting , transition metal , chemical engineering , electrocatalyst , bimetallic strip , carbide , molybdenum disulfide , nanotechnology , electrochemistry , photocatalysis , metal , catalysis , optoelectronics , electrode , composite material , chemistry , metallurgy , biochemistry , layer (electronics) , engineering
Due to integrated advantages in electrochemical functionalities for energy conversion, 2D nonlayered heterostructure nanosheets offer new and fascinating opportunities for electrocatalysis but their fabrication is challenging when compared with the widely studied 2D layered heterostructure. Herein, a bottom‐up approach is established for facile synthesis of holey 2D transition metal carbide/nitride heterostructure nanosheets (h‐TMCN) with regulated hole sizes by controlled thermal annealing of the Mo/Zn bimetallic imidazolate frameworks (Mo/Zn BIFs). Ex situ phase and structural identifications disclose that the Mo/Zn BIFs precursor experiences interconnected three steps of transformation to produce h‐TMCN. Especially, the slow successive solid‐state diffusion of nitrogen and carbon into immediate noncrystalline molybdenum oxides allows the intergrowth of Mo 2 C and Mo 2 N into the 2D nonlayered heterostructure. X‐ray fine structure analysis coupled with high resolution X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrate that Mo 2 C and Mo 2 N in the microdomains can chemically bond with each other, producing the abundant active N–Mo–C interfaces toward water splitting. Consequently, h‐TMCN affords low overpotentials, high turnover frequencies, rapid charge transfer, and superior long‐term stability toward electrocatalytic water oxidation. The present work demonstrates the feasibility of developing a broad range of 2D nonlayered heterostructures for high efficiency chemical energy conversion.